Stock cast off and comb slope questions

yippert

yippert

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Making a new stock for my Brno 600 7x57. Raising the comb to account for the high scope mount and was thinking that a level or straight comb might be more comfortable to shoot than the factory dropped comb. Any advice? Also have been reading Clyde Baker's Modern Gunsmithing (1934) and thinking of adding a bit of cast off say 1/4". Is this a good idea anymore? Does it effect accuracy by kicking off to the side a bit? Appreciate any comments. Y
 
I feel a level comb allows you to place your face at various postions and the height to view through the scope does not change. However a comb sloping down towards the front reduces recoil to your face.

I always felt the biggest reason to cast a stock away from your face, was so there was enough wood left to make a full cheek piece from a skinny blank. A cast off stock will induce some recoil towards the face.... just as the lower the butt is the more a rifle recoils upwards.
 
yippert said:
Making a new stock for my Brno 600 7x57. Raising the comb to account for the high scope mount and was thinking that a level or straight comb might be more comfortable to shoot than the factory dropped comb. Any advice? Also have been reading Clyde Baker's Modern Gunsmithing (1934) and thinking of adding a bit of cast off say 1/4". Is this a good idea anymore? Does it effect accuracy by kicking off to the side a bit? Appreciate any comments. Y
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that the bottom of the cocking piece has to miss the point of the comb when the bolt is open. I usually leave about a 1/16" gap.

When I make a stock it has to be functional but the look is also important. I have found that I don't care for the look of a stock where the top of the comb is parallel to the bore. Worst yet is where the point of the heel is higher than the point of the comb. It's all pretty subjective.

So the stocks I make usually end up with a drop at comb of 5/8" and a drop at heel of 3/4"(although a little more at the heel is ok). I have used this style on such firm kicking rifles as .35 Whelen, 9.3X62 and .375 H&H and have not found recoil to be an issue. Obviously, if the drop at heel was to be extreme, recoil could start to hurt.

I don't have any experience with cast-off. All my stocks are straight.

Here's a picture of a .375 H&H with the above dimensions. Pitch on this one was about 2 1/2" down.

DSC00623.jpg
 
Good shotguns have some cast so that they instantly line up your master eye over the rib. It is not a requirement for rifles, since you have to position your head for fine aiming anyway, and cast will take away some of the effect of the higher comb - ( less support ).
 
Comb and cast

Thanks for the replies. They help a lot. I think I'll abandon the cast idea and go with a level Monte Carlo type cheek piece and drop the heel to give the stock the appearance of a dropped comb. That also makes a better shoulder fit. At 2 1/4" below the sight line the comb clears the bolt by a little over 1/8". Cheers...Y
 
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